Kieron Gillen masterclass announced

This is tonight - don't forget! 

The Guardian Masterclasses have announced a "How to write a comic book" masterclass with comics writer Kieron Gillen. All details are here - they say..

A unique opportunity to learn from one of the world’s leading comic book writers.

Marvel is having a moment. From the minute details in the world-building to the complexity of the characters and the scale of the stories, there are few things more exciting than a really brilliant comic book.

If you have an idea or concept for your own comic, but aren’t sure how to break into a seemingly closed industry, this masterclass with Marvel’s Kieron Gillen is for you. The writer of a huge range of comics - including the critically acclaimed The Wicked + The Divine, and Marvel Comics’ Young Avengers - Kieron will give you the advice he wishes he had heard at the start of his career.

Combining anecdotes, practical takeaways and a breaking down of individual stories and pages (plus Q&A), Kieron will take you through how to construct your jump-off point into a strong story, how the industry works - and doesn’t work, how to maintain your unique voice and style in a process that might involve more opinions than you’re used to - and more.

This is a unique opportunity to hear from one of the leading comic book writers in the world. If you’re in the early stages of crafting your own comic, you’re trying to get yours to land in a difficult industry, or if you simply have a story to tell, this is an unmissable chance to have your questions answered, and - more importantly - be on your way to realising your comic writing dream.

Course content

• What a comic script is, what it isn’t and how to make yours yours without making an artist want to kill you.
• The whole Process - from the idea to the finished book to show the world.
• How do you work with artists, editors, inkers, colourists and everyone else. What works? What’s ethical? What’s both?
• Narrative structure, at every level - the panel, the page, the issue, the series.
• How to identify the things in comics that are actively magical and how to make your own…
• Q&A

This course is for…

• Aspiring comic book writers who want to learn the fundamentals before approaching their first project
• Early career writers who are looking for advice and insight into the industry landscape
• Anyone interested in exploring the artistic process of writing comic books

Tutor profile

Kieron Gillen is a British comic book writer. He is known for co-creating the acclaimed comics The Wicked + The Divine, DIE and Once & Future. He has also worked on numerous projects for Marvel Comics, including Uncanny X-Men, Darth Vader, Young Avengers, Iron Man, Star Wars and Eternals.

Course Details

• Date: Tuesday 6 June 2023
• Time: 6pm-8.30pm (BST)

A catch up recording will be shared after the class and will be available for two

£65 plus £3.56 booking fee (the cost is less if you're a patron)

Find all other Kieron Gillen mentions on the blog right here - including his first EVER comic work

Kieron Gillen masterclass announced

The Guardian Masterclasses have announced a "How to write a comic book" masterclass with comics writer Kieron Gillen. All details are here - they say..

A unique opportunity to learn from one of the world’s leading comic book writers.

Marvel is having a moment. From the minute details in the world-building to the complexity of the characters and the scale of the stories, there are few things more exciting than a really brilliant comic book.

If you have an idea or concept for your own comic, but aren’t sure how to break into a seemingly closed industry, this masterclass with Marvel’s Kieron Gillen is for you. The writer of a huge range of comics - including the critically acclaimed The Wicked + The Divine, and Marvel Comics’ Young Avengers - Kieron will give you the advice he wishes he had heard at the start of his career.

Combining anecdotes, practical takeaways and a breaking down of individual stories and pages (plus Q&A), Kieron will take you through how to construct your jump-off point into a strong story, how the industry works - and doesn’t work, how to maintain your unique voice and style in a process that might involve more opinions than you’re used to - and more.

This is a unique opportunity to hear from one of the leading comic book writers in the world. If you’re in the early stages of crafting your own comic, you’re trying to get yours to land in a difficult industry, or if you simply have a story to tell, this is an unmissable chance to have your questions answered, and - more importantly - be on your way to realising your comic writing dream.

Course content

• What a comic script is, what it isn’t and how to make yours yours without making an artist want to kill you.
• The whole Process - from the idea to the finished book to show the world.
• How do you work with artists, editors, inkers, colourists and everyone else. What works? What’s ethical? What’s both?
• Narrative structure, at every level - the panel, the page, the issue, the series.
• How to identify the things in comics that are actively magical and how to make your own…
• Q&A

This course is for…

• Aspiring comic book writers who want to learn the fundamentals before approaching their first project
• Early career writers who are looking for advice and insight into the industry landscape
• Anyone interested in exploring the artistic process of writing comic books

Tutor profile

Kieron Gillen is a British comic book writer. He is known for co-creating the acclaimed comics The Wicked + The Divine, DIE and Once & Future. He has also worked on numerous projects for Marvel Comics, including Uncanny X-Men, Darth Vader, Young Avengers, Iron Man, Star Wars and Eternals.

Course Details

• Date: Tuesday 6 June 2023
• Time: 6pm-8.30pm (BST)

A catch up recording will be shared after the class and will be available for two

£65 plus £3.56 booking fee (the cost is less if you're a patron)

Find all other Kieron Gillen mentions on the blog right here - including his first EVER comic work

Kieron Gillen comics masterclass announced

A while ago (here) I identified Kieron Gillen's first comics work from November 2003 (in Warhammer monthly issue #74), sinec then he's gone to bigger and better things...Now there's an opportunty to attend a 'How to write a comic book' masterclass

The Guardian has this to say about the masterclass...

Learn how to get your concept onto the page and out into the world, in this evening masterclass with Kieron Gillen.

Marvel is having a moment. From the minute details in the world-building to the complexity of the characters and the scale of the stories, there are few things more exciting than a really brilliant comic book.

If you have an idea or concept for your own comic, but aren’t sure how to break into a seemingly closed industry, this masterclass with Marvel’s Kieron Gillen is for you. The writer of a huge range of comics - including the critically acclaimed The Wicked + The Divine, and Marvel Comics’ Young Avengers - Kieron will give you the advice he wishes he had heard at the start of his career.

Combining anecdotes, practical takeaways and a breaking down of individual stories and pages (plus Q&A), Kieron will take you through how to construct your jump-off point into a strong story, how the industry works - and doesn’t work, how to maintain your unique voice and style in a process that might involve more opinions than you’re used to - and more.

This is a unique opportunity to hear from one of the leading comic book writers in the world. If you’re in the early stages of crafting your own comic, you’re trying to get yours to land in a difficult industry, or if you simply have a story to tell, this is an unmissable chance to have your questions answered, and - more importantly - be on your way to realising your comic writing dream.

Course content

• What a comic script is, what it isn't and how to make yours yours without making an artist want to kill you.
• How the industry works and doesn't work. Demystification and warnings.
• The whole Process - building your idea, your team and the book to show the world.
• How do you work with artists, editors, inkers, colourists and everyone else. What works? What's ethical? What's both?
• Narrative structure, at every level - the panel, the page, the issue, the series.
• Q&A

Tutor profile

Kieron Gillen is a British comic book writer. He is known for co-creating the acclaimed comics The Wicked + The Divine, DIE and Phonogram. He has also worked on numerous projects for Marvel Comics, including Uncanny X-Men, Darth Vader, Young Avengers, Iron Man and Star Wars.

All Guardian Masterclasses are fully accessible but please contact us at masterclasses@theguardian.com if you have any queries or concerns.

You can book tickets here fro £49.99 plus £2.36 booking fee - the masterclass date is Wednesday 5th February 2020, 6:30-9:30pm

Comics artists ahoy at Gosh comics in mid-January

PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED AS THE PUBLICATION DATE OF THE BOOK HAS CHANGED TO MARCH. IT IS HOPED TO RE-SCHEDULE THE EVENT.


Gosh comics have announced a great sounding signing for mid-January - it's ticketed (and tickets were available from yesterday) so you may have to hurry - the facebook page is here

This is what they have to say about the it all...

We’ll have a stellar line-up of concept artists and designers from Star Wars The Rise of Skywalker here to speak about their work and sign copies of The Art of Star Wars The Rise of Skywalker on Friday 17th January 2020, 7.30-9pm!

It’s been a long time coming, but final chapter of the Star Wars saga (the Star Wars heptalogy?) hits screens on the 20th December courtesy of director JJ Abrams and a small army of creative folks who work all hours of the given day to entertain us.

As with previous films, Phil Szostak has put together an exhaustive tour through the artwork that informs whats up on the big screen. Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, like every chapter before it, owes its visual language and fully imagined cinematic landscape to an incomparable art department: The Lucasfilm “visualists.” Good for us then that plenty of those talented folks are based right here in the UK, and we're lucky enough to be hosting a number of them for a Q&A session and signing. Adam Brockbank (concept artist), Bob Cheshire (concept artist), Glyn Dillon (senior costume concept artist), Kevin Jenkins (production designer), Jake Lunt-Davies (creature concept artist), John McCoy (concept artist) and Calum Alexander Watt (costume concept artist) will all be present here in-store to talk about their process working on the film, as well as take your questions, along with special guest moderator (and former Star W rs comic writer) Kieron Gillen! There will also be an opportunity to get copies of The Art of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker signed by this incredible roster of talent.

The book comes out on the 20th December, but if you’re happy to wait you can pre-order a signed copy for collection or mail-order after the event right now via our website.

“The official behind-the-scenes book of concept, production, and post-production art for Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.

Go inside the creative process behind the most anticipated film of the century. The latest trilogy in the Star Wars film series brings the Skywalker Saga to a close and The Art of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker will take readers into the creative process behind visualizing the epic worlds, creatures, characters, costumes, weapons, and vehicles of the landmark conclusion more than 40 years in the making.”

Things kick off on Friday, 17th of January from 7.30-9 pm. We'll be closing the store at 7pm for a brief set-up, reopening at around 7.20pm to let people take their seats.

Due to anticipated demand, the event is ticketed. Tickets are free but do make sure you reserve your place through Eventbrite soon as you can to avoid disappointment. Seating is unreserved, and tickets are limited to 2 per person. Tickets will be available at this link from Friday the 13th of December at noon.

24 panels launches at Gosh comics tonight

This is tonight - don't forget folks!

24 panels - an anthology to aid PTSD needs of survivors of the Grenfell Tower fire officially launches at Gosh comics (in London) on Thursday December 6th...and there'll be a tonne of creators there on the night...

As Gosh themselves say...

We will be marking the launch of the new Grenfell Tower benefit comic 24 Panels with a launch party to make as much noise as possible about this incredible fundraising project. We will have a huge roster of contributors here on Thursday December 6th, 7-9pm, including Kieron Gillen, Tula Lotay, Ram V, Paul Cornell, Al Ewing, Dan Watters, Caspar Wijngaard, Rachael Smith, Dilraj Mann, Sara Kenney, Gavin Mitchell, Sarah Gordon, Sean Azzopardi, Pablo Clark, Leigh Alexander, Paul Swain, Trevor Boyd, Mike Garley, Erika Price, Gwen Kortsen, Angela Wraight, Drew Wills & Gen Ainslow.

The tragedy of the June 2017 Grenfell Tower fire still leaves its physical and psychological scars on London, from the site itself to the after-effects on those who witnessed it, survived it, and lost their loved ones to it. The 24 Panels anthology has been created as a complement to the 24 Stories prose anthology, and like that project is a fundraising effort for those survivors who have been affected by PTSD in the wake of the disaster.

“On the night of 14th June 2017, a fire engulfed the 24-storey Grenfell Tower in west London, killing at least 72 people and injuring many more. An entire community was destroyed. 

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a condition that affects many people who have experienced traumatic events, leaving them unable to move on.

For those directly affected by the Grenfell Tower fire, the psychological scars may never fully heal but in the hands of skilled professionals who specialise in the treatment of psychological trauma, they can be helped and gradually lives can be transformed.

In the immediate aftermath of the fire, the focus was rightly placed on providing food, shelter and health care for those left homeless - but it is important that we don't lose sight of the psychological impact this fire has had on its survivors. 

Following the successful and highly regarded 24 Stories anthology this is a parallel comic book project promoting themes of hope, community, positivity and unity in aid of PTSD related needs of Grenfell Tower survivors.”

24 Panels, edited by Kieron Gillen, Rhona Martin and Steve Thompson, features 24 stories, each no longer than 24 panels. Half drawn from professional creators who volunteered their time and half drawn from open submissions, project contributors include Alan Moore, Al Ewing, Sara Kenney, Alex De Campi, Laurie Penny, Paul Cornell, Dilraj Mann, Antony Johnston, Lizz Lunney, Leigh Alexander, Dan Watters, Ram V., Melinda Gebbie, Doug Braithwaite, Jan Wijngaard, Ted Brandt, Ro Stein, Gavin Mitchell, Rachael Smith, Dilraj Mann, Robin Hoelzemann, Tom Humberstone and Sarah Gordon.

We’re also very pleased to be able to announce the sale on the night of a very limited number of A3 prints of Tula Lotay and Dee Cunniffe’s cover artwork, each signed by the book’s contributors, and there will also be a special fundraising auction of a framed A1 print of the art signed by contributors. All sales on the prints will be donated to the 24 Panels cause.

24 panels - comic creators for Grenfell Tower

24 panels - an anthology to aid PTSD needs of survivors of the Grenfell Tower fire officially launches at Gosh comics (in London) on Thursday December 6th...and there'll be a tonne of creators there on the night...

As Gosh themselves say...

We will be marking the launch of the new Grenfell Tower benefit comic 24 Panels with a launch party to make as much noise as possible about this incredible fundraising project. We will have a huge roster of contributors here on Thursday December 6th, 7-9pm, including Kieron Gillen, Tula Lotay, Ram V, Paul Cornell, Al Ewing, Dan Watters, Caspar Wijngaard, Rachael Smith, Dilraj Mann, Sara Kenney, Gavin Mitchell, Sarah Gordon, Sean Azzopardi, Pablo Clark, Leigh Alexander, Paul Swain, Trevor Boyd, Mike Garley, Erika Price, Gwen Kortsen, Angela Wraight, Drew Wills & Gen Ainslow.

The tragedy of the June 2017 Grenfell Tower fire still leaves its physical and psychological scars on London, from the site itself to the after-effects on those who witnessed it, survived it, and lost their loved ones to it. The 24 Panels anthology has been created as a complement to the 24 Stories prose anthology, and like that project is a fundraising effort for those survivors who have been affected by PTSD in the wake of the disaster.

“On the night of 14th June 2017, a fire engulfed the 24-storey Grenfell Tower in west London, killing at least 72 people and injuring many more. An entire community was destroyed. 

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a condition that affects many people who have experienced traumatic events, leaving them unable to move on.

For those directly affected by the Grenfell Tower fire, the psychological scars may never fully heal but in the hands of skilled professionals who specialise in the treatment of psychological trauma, they can be helped and gradually lives can be transformed.

In the immediate aftermath of the fire, the focus was rightly placed on providing food, shelter and health care for those left homeless - but it is important that we don't lose sight of the psychological impact this fire has had on its survivors. 

Following the successful and highly regarded 24 Stories anthology this is a parallel comic book project promoting themes of hope, community, positivity and unity in aid of PTSD related needs of Grenfell Tower survivors.”

24 Panels, edited by Kieron Gillen, Rhona Martin and Steve Thompson, features 24 stories, each no longer than 24 panels. Half drawn from professional creators who volunteered their time and half drawn from open submissions, project contributors include Alan Moore, Al Ewing, Sara Kenney, Alex De Campi, Laurie Penny, Paul Cornell, Dilraj Mann, Antony Johnston, Lizz Lunney, Leigh Alexander, Dan Watters, Ram V., Melinda Gebbie, Doug Braithwaite, Jan Wijngaard, Ted Brandt, Ro Stein, Gavin Mitchell, Rachael Smith, Dilraj Mann, Robin Hoelzemann, Tom Humberstone and Sarah Gordon.

We’re also very pleased to be able to announce the sale on the night of a very limited number of A3 prints of Tula Lotay and Dee Cunniffe’s cover artwork, each signed by the book’s contributors, and there will also be a special fundraising auction of a framed A1 print of the art signed by contributors. All sales on the prints will be donated to the 24 Panels cause.

Kieron GIllen first comics work identified

Gosh comics have announced a signing with comics writer Kieron Gillen, see poster below...

I've not read The Wicked + the Divine or Phonogram but even I know that Kieron would count as a big name writer with his credits covering Thor, Journey into mystery, (Uncanny) X-men and plenty more besides. What most caught my eye whilst glancing through his Wikipedia page (here) was the reference to that said ...Gillen has written for both print and online comics. He has worked for Warhammer Monthly but no more details than that.

So, the question was could I identify the 'lost' issue of Warhammer monthly that Kieron had first written for (he might not be that excited about his offering for Warhammer monthly as his Wikipedia page also quotes him as saying that his 2006 project, Phonogram, was his 'first real comics project')?

Anyway, a look in my collection of Warhammer monthly showed that Wikipedia was indeed right, Kieron HAD written for Warhammer monthly. Now I don't have a full set of Warhammer monthly (I need issues 80 and 84-6) so this might not be a full listing of his work for Warhammer monthly but his work did definitely appear in the following issues...    

Issue 74

Issue 83

No work in issues 1-73, 75-9 or 81-2